Growing Worcester church hits sour note

Gary and Peggy Tambolleo say they've had it with their loud, "hell-raising" neighbors.

The raucous late-night parties. The music so loud it makes their house shake. The indifferent response when they call the cops, which is often.

"We are truly disappointed in the type of neighbors they are," the Tambolleos say. "In a word: horrible!"

The source of the alleged noise respectfully disagrees. And while he may not love his neighbors as himself, he's more than willing to turn the other cheek.

"I believe he's a good man and he means well," said the Rev. Miguel Pagan, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church. "There is noise there, but I believe it's been blown out of proportion."

Father Pagan (pronounced PawGAN, thank God) is referring to the new parish hall, a $1.3 million, 8,350-square-foot facility that opened last January to meet the needs of the rapidly growing parish on Lincoln Street. The hall abuts the Tambolleos, who live on Wayside Road, and they acknowledge that they opposed the project and spoke against it to the Planning Board.

Now, the Tambolleos have become a thorn in the priest's side. Father Pagan said he first met Gary Tambolleo Dec. 2 of 2012, about six months after he joined the church as pastor, when Tambolleo pounded on the rectory door after midnight during a concert of Hispanic Christian music in the hall.

"He began ranting stuff to me," Father Pagan said. "He was insulting. I tried to calm him down... He was as red as a mature pepper. This building wasn't meant to be a problem, and I don't think it's the level he describes."

He said Tambolleo called him "evil," a word used liberally in an angry letter sent last week by the Tambolleos to various diocesan officials.

"How sad that the neighbor from HELL is a church," they wrote in the letter, which also makes ad hominem remarks about the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal. "Of course, it is not surprising that it is a Catholic Church since you people seem to think YOU are God."

Tambolleo admits that he and his wife "got a little carried away" while composing the letter, but maintains that the noise is likewise out of hand at St. Joan of Arc. He said he's repeatedly called City Hall, Congressman James McGovern, the diocesan chancery and Worcester police. A 49-year-old unemployed construction worker, he and his wife have lived in the home for 23 years.

"I don't understand why they have to be so loud," he said. "It's like a concert venue over there."

The last troublesome event occurred Dec. 29, during a post-baptism celebration among the parish's Ghanaian community. The church draws a good portion of its membership from Lincoln Village and Great Brook Valley, and is also made up of a large number of Hispanics.

"This is a busy place," said Father Pagan, whose church boasts about 650 families. "Different cultures tend to be more noisy." Of last month's post-baptism party, he said, "Frankly, I don't think we'll have another one of those."

Father Pagan said he's spoken to his neighbor four different times and has extended the olive branch. He also wants to invite the couple to the rectory for dinner, but Tambolleo indicated that he's not willing to break bread with the pastor.

"I think it would be awkward," he said. "Maybe coffee or lunch. But dinner is too formal. I wouldn't be able to enjoy my meal."

Suffice to say that Tambolleo was raised Catholic but is no longer practicing. As for enduring so much joyful noise to the Lord, he indicated he's no saint.

"Obviously we're not fans of the Catholic church for reasons beyond deafening music," he said. "But we just want this resolved."